Wikipedia Serves Its Own Version of “Wrapped” as It Looks Back on Its Top-Searched Articles for 2023

If you think only music lovers look forward to something every year end in the form of Spotify’s “Wrapped” And Apple Music’s “Replay,” then you’re in for a surprise, as The Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit behind the free online encyclopedia, serves its own 2023 look-back with their release their “Most Popular Articles of 2023.”

In a year marked by technological advancements and takeovers, global events, and celebrity milestones, English Wikipedia emerged as the go-to source for over 84 billion inquisitive minds seeking knowledge.

Topping the charts with an impressive 49,490,406 pageviews is the article on ChatGPT, the ubiquitous AI chatbot that has permeated diverse fields from education to healthcare. Launched just over a year ago by OpenAI, ChatGPT has become a symbol of the ongoing debates surrounding generative AI, sparking discussions about its promises and potential risks.

The recent OpenAI fiasco may have helped push the searches for ChatGPT further.

Maintaining its perennial popularity, the second most-read article was the annual list of deaths, amassing 42,666,860 pageviews. This somber reflection on notable figures who left us in 2023 included individual entries for Matthew Perry and Lisa Marie Presley, captivating readers with their legacies.

In a surprising turn, cricket claimed its place in the spotlight, capturing the third and fourth spots with the 2023 Cricket World Cup and the Indian Premier League, respectively. This marks the first time cricket content has secured a spot in Wikipedia’s top 25, showcasing the sport’s global appeal, and speaks of the Indian populace’s love for the internet.

“Barbenheimer,” an intriguing phenomenon of 2023, made its mark, and the ever-popular Taylor Swift secured the twelfth spot with 19,418,385 pageviews. Swift’s achievements, including the record-breaking Eras Tour, continued to captivate audiences, reflecting the enduring popularity of the global icon.

Film enthusiasts flocked to Wikipedia to learn about “Oppenheimer (film),” which secured the fifth spot with 28,348,248 pageviews. The narrative surrounding the race to build the world’s first atomic bomb, helmed by physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, garnered widespread interest, transcending language barriers and captivating audiences worldwide.

Here are the full top 25 English Wikipedia articles of 2023 based on their pageviews.

1. ChatGPT, 49,490,406 pageviews
2. Deaths in 2023, 42,666,860
3. 2023 Cricket World Cup, 38,171,653
4. Indian Premier League, 32,012,810
5. Oppenheimer (film), 28,348,248
6. Cricket World Cup, 25,961,417
7. J. Robert Oppenheimer, 25,672,469
8. Jawan (film), 21,791,126
9. 2023 Indian Premier League, 20,694,974
10. Pathaan (film), 19,932,509
11. The Last of Us (TV series), 19,791,789
12. Taylor Swift, 19,418,385
13. Barbie (film), 18,051,077
14. Cristiano Ronaldo, 17,492,537
15. Lionel Messi, 16,623,630
16. Premier League, 16,604,669
17. Matthew Perry, 16,454,666
18. United States, 16,240,461
19. Elon Musk, 14,370,395
20. Avatar: The Way of Water, 14,303,116
21. India, 13,850,178
22. Lisa Marie Presley, 13,764,007
23. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, 13,392,917
24. Russian invasion of Ukraine, 12,798,866
25. Andrew Tate, 12,728,616

(GFB)